About Robert or James Irvine

James Irvine was also known as Robert Irvine. In this generation the name is "Irvine," but his American sons all changed the spelling of the name to Irwin.

Birth: after 1670 - County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Death: after 1729 - Northern Ireland

Parents: David Irvine, Sophie Gault

Married: Margaret Wylie

"Robert and Margaret had 10 children; Margaret (died in Ireland) who married Ephraim McDowell; Thomas who married and settled in Cushendal, Ireland; and Alexander, George, David, William, Robert, James, and Samuel. The last seven came to America on the ship GEORGE & ANNE. It sailed from Londonderry 9 May 1729 and landed at Philadelphia." There is also a daughter Mary (died in Ireland) who married her cousin, John Wylie.

Per Elson Irwin: NOTE: This Robert Irvine became a wealthy man, operating linen mills at Larne, County Antrim in Ireland. Yet, seven of his sons chose to migrate to America in 1729, why?

"The Irish-born descendants of Robert Irvine and his wife Elizabeth Wylie, operated linen mills near Larne, County Antrim. Under the Test Act of 1703 the English held most of the population of Ireland under severe penal restrictions. All marriages and funerals were required to use the Episcopal ritual; Presbyterians were barred from the army and navy and from public offices. With these religious restrictions of the Test Act, injustices of landlords with their rent increases, and with their linen mills failing, the last seven of the ten children listed above of Robert Irvine and Margaret Wylie, his wife, decided to emigrate to America. They sailed from Londonderry, Ireland on the ship "George and Anne", departing of May 9, 1729 with their families, their destination being Philadelphia. Sailing with these seven Irvine brothers was Ephraim McDowell, their brother-in-law, whose wife Margaret had died earleir. They had lived almost a century under religious persecution, to which they might become accustomed, but would never accept."

Genealogy of the Greenlee Families in America, Scotland, Ireland and England with Ancestors of Elizabeth Brooks Greenlee and Emily Brooks Greenlee. Also Genealogical Data on the McDowells of Virginia and Kentucky. by Ralph Stebbins Greenlee and Robert Lemuel Greenlee. Chicago, Illinois, Privately Printed 1908

Alexander, 10th Laird of Drum, his brother Robert Irvine of Fedderet, and as well as his two oldest sons, Alexander and Robert, were imprisoned at Edinburgh Castle several times. Robert died in the dungeons. He had escaped the Covenanters in Scotland by going to County Antrim in Ulster, and while there married Elizabeth Wylie. A few months later he returned to Scotland to join the forces being raised in support of the King by Alexander, his older brother. Robert was soon captured by the Covenanters, however, he died on 4 Feb 1645 in Tolbooth Prison in Edinburgh (torn down in 1817). David, his son, was born while he was in prison, but he never saw him.

The Laird's eldest son Alexander, near death, was set free after Montrose's victory over the Covenanters at the Battle of Kilsyth in August 1645. Tradition has it that after he recovered he joined Montrose's army and continued the fight against the Covenanters. He survived the war and married Lady Mary Gordon in 1643. Alexander succeeded his father as the 11th Laird of Drum when the elders died in 1657.

Robert's son David married Sophia Gault and had a son named Robert who married Margaret Wylie. Robert and Margaret had 10 children;

1. Margaret who married Ephraim McDowell;

2. Thomas who married and settled in Cushendal, Ireland; and

3. Alexander,

4. George,

5. David,

6. William,

7. Robert,

8. James, and

9. Samuel.

The last seven came to America on the ship GEORGE & ANNE. It sailed from Londonderry 9 May 1729 and landed at Philadelphia.

Irish descendants of Robert Irvine operated linen mills near Larne, County Antrim, Ulster, Ireland. On 9 May 1729, the seven Irvine brothers, Alexander, George, David, William, Robert, James, and Samuel, departed Londonderry on the ship "George and Anne" to emigrate to America.

His parents were David Irvine and Sophie Gault of Scotland.

ID: P3265510246

Death: 1729 in Ireland

Birth: 1645 in Ulster, Ireland

Name: Robert Irvine

Sex: M 1

Marriage 1 Margaret Wylie b: 1670 in Londonderry, Ireland

Children

John Erwin b: 1701 in Antrim, Ireland

From his Find A Grave page:

Alexander, 10th Laird of Drum, his brother Robert Irvine of Fedderet, and as well as his two oldest sons, Alexander and Robert, were imprisoned at Edinburgh Castle several times. Robert died in the dungeons. He had escaped the Covenanters in Scotland by going to County Antrim in Ulster, and while there married Elizabeth Wylie. A few months later he returned to Scotland to join the forces being raised in support of the King by Alexander, his older brother. Robert was soon captured by the Covenanters, however, he died on 4 Feb 1645 in Tolbooth Prison in Edinburgh (torn down in 1817). David, his son, was born while he was in prison, but he never saw him.

The Laird's eldest son Alexander, near death, was set free after Montrose's victory over the Covenanters at the Battle of Kilsyth in August 1645. Tradition has it that after he recovered he joined Montrose's army and continued the fight against the Covenanters. He survived the war and married Lady Mary Gordon in 1643. Alexander succeeded his father as the 11th Laird of Drum when the elders died in 1657.

Robert's son David married Sophia Gault and had a son named Robert who married Margaret Wylie. Robert and Margaret had 10 children;

1. Margaret who married Ephraim McDowell;

2. Thomas who married and settled in Cushendal, Ireland; and

3. Alexander,

4. George,

5. David,

6. William,

7. Robert,

8. James, and

9. Samuel.

The last seven came to America on the ship GEORGE & ANNE. It sailed from Londonderry 9 May 1729 and landed at Philadelphia.

Irish descendants of Robert Irvine operated linen mills near Larne, County Antrim, Ulster, Ireland. On 9 May 1729, the seven Irvine brothers, Alexander, George, David, William, Robert, James, and Samuel, departed Londonderry on the ship "George and Anne" to emigrate to America.